Definition of TRIVIAL (original) (raw)
1
a
: of little worth or importance
b
: relating to or being the mathematically simplest case
specifically : characterized by having all variables equal to zero
a trivial solution to a linear equation
Did you know?
When English speakers adopted the word trivial from the Latin word trivialis in the 16th century, they used it to mean just what its Latin ancestor meant: "found everywhere, commonplace." But the source of trivialis is about something more specific: trivium, from tri- ("three") and via ("way"), means "crossroads; place where three roads meet." The link between the two presumably has to do with the commonplace sorts of things a person is likely to encounter at a busy crossroads. Today, the English word typically describes something barely worth mentioning. Such judgments are, of course, subjective; feel free to mention this bit of trivia to anyone and everyone who crosses your path.
Synonyms
Examples of trivial in a Sentence
His later memory, untutored and unsupported by anything so trivial as evidence or documents, now flourished and ran wild. —
Muriel Spark, Curriculum Vitae, (1992) 1993 I had never heard anyone speak of their parents in this way; I never even knew you could make them seem trivial … —Jamaica Kincaid, Lucy, 1990 But the last tribute was to be a struggle among states for possession of the trivial remains of a man who in life had known as much revilement as honor. —Robert Penn Warren, Jefferson Davis Gets His Citizenship Back, 1980
statistics and other trivial matters a trivial sum of money Compared to her problems, our problems seem trivial.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Such matters were neither trivial nor flighty. —David Folkenflik, NPR, 16 Oct. 2025 For decades, a seemingly trivial issue — who gets the best parking spot and office — has ignited officewide tension. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2025 Keaton continued to play oddballs with a peculiar way of talking, though none were trivial or stupid. —Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2025 Eckert’s ultimate victory in securing regulatory approval for Addyi underpins the documentary’s revelations about gender bias at the FDA as a drug that claimed to improve female pleasure was dismissed as trivial or even dangerous. —Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for trivial
Word History
Etymology
Latin trivialis found everywhere, commonplace, from trivium crossroads, from tri- + via way — more at way
First Known Use
1589, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Time Traveler
The first known use of trivial was in 1589
Browse Nearby Words
Cite this Entry
“Trivial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trivial. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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Last Updated: 17 Oct 2025 - Updated example sentences
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